{"id":3205,"date":"2016-07-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-03T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.safram.com\/?p=3205"},"modified":"2019-12-11T13:53:17","modified_gmt":"2019-12-11T12:53:17","slug":"tough-conditions-on-the-solent-deliver-a-challenging-sea-going-debut-for-switzerlands-safram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.safram.com\/en\/tough-conditions-on-the-solent-deliver-a-challenging-sea-going-debut-for-switzerlands-safram\/","title":{"rendered":"Tough conditions on the Solent deliver a challenging sea-going debut for Switzerland\u2019s Safram"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Swiss catamaran Safram lined up with 1,500 boats and 15,000 sailors on the start line of the J.P.\u00a0Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race for their first saltwater regatta on Saturday 2 July.\u00a0After a magnificent start, the Ventilo M1 \u2013 more at home in light lake conditions \u2013 dismasted at the\u00a0Needles. No one was injured on board and the crew is upbeat about the learnings they gained!<\/p>\n

Cowes, UK \u2013 2 July 2016 \u2013 The Swiss sailing team Safram, a frequent competitor at Europe\u2019s biggest\u00a0lake regattas, shipped their Ventilo M1 catamaran to the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom to take on the\u00a0challenging 50 nautical mile J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. This classic on the\u00a0British racing calendar attracts a fleet of over 1,500 boats.<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s race started in 20 knots of wind with conditions increasing to 25 knots as the fleet raced out of\u00a0the Solent, past the Needles and into the English Channel. The waves were steep at the Needles making\u00a0the going tough for the small catamaran, more used to light lake conditions, and finally resulting in the\u00a0boat losing its mast. Thankfully no one was hurt.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe boat went very well in the Solent, we sailed really well up to the Needles,\u201d described helmsman,\u00a0Christophe Peclard. \u201cIt was impressive to see so many boats in the fleet. The crew worked really well\u00a0together, but in the end it is a mechanical sport and the waves were too much for the catamaran. We don\u2019t\u00a0know exactly what let go, but it was probably the sub structure that failed. I am convinced that without the\u00a0damage, the team would have completed the race around the island and enjoyed every minute of it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Rodolphe Gautier, skipper and project leader, added: \u201cWith the tide against us, plus the wind, we had 26\u00a0knots on the nose and steep waves at the Needles. But despite everything we were able to enjoy the\u00a0spectacle while we were towed back to Cowes through the 1,500-strong fleet \u2013 it was magnificent!<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a bold but rewarding experience and while we would have preferred to keep the boat in one piece,\u00a0it was a big day for the team and will remain an unforgettable memory.\u201d<\/p>\n

The boat is already packed away in its truck, courtesy of team partner, the transport company, Safram and\u00a0the crew will work on fixing it in the coming weeks. Next up is the Centomiglia on Lake Garda in Italy on\u00a0the 10 September, where the team will be defending their 2015 victory!<\/p>\n

More information on our Facebook : www.facebook.com\/SaframSailing<\/a><\/p>\n

J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race 2016 \u2013 Safram crew :<\/strong><\/p>\n